Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-1P2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Azalea  plant named ‘RLH1-1P2’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and globose plant habit; freely branching habit; dense, bushy and vigorous growth habit; evergreen and persistent dark green-colored leaves that do not abscise during the winter; freely flowering habit during spring and from summer until frost in autumn; large ruffled crimson red-colored flowers that are not persistent; single to semi-double flower form; and excellent garden performance.

Botanical designation: Rhododendron hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RLH1-1P2’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant, botanically known as Rhododendron hybrida, an evergreen Azalea, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RLH1-1P2’.

The new Azalea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventors in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact evergreen Azalea plants having dense growth habit, large attractive flowers, good foliage retention during the winter, consistent summer reblooming qualities and cold hardiness.

The new Azalea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventors in 1996, in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., of a proprietary selection of Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1900-RP, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Rhododendron hybrida ‘September Song’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Azalea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. in 2000.

Asexual reproduction of the new Azalea plant by semi-hardwood stem cuttings taken in a controlled greenhouse environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. since 2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Azalea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Azalea have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RLH1-1P2’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RLH1-1P2’ as a new and distinct Azalea cultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and globose plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense, bushy and vigorous growth         habit.     -   3. Evergreen and persistent dark green-colored leaves that do         not abscise during the winter.     -   4. Freely flowering habit during spring and from summer until         frost in autumn.     -   5. Large ruffled crimson red-colored flowers that are not         persistent.     -   6. Single to semi-double flower form.     -   7. Excellent garden performance.

Plants of the new Azalea differ from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea have larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea are crimson red in color         whereas flowers of plants of the female parent selection are         pink in color.

Plants of the new Azalea differ from plants of the male parent, ‘September Song’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘September Song’.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘September Song’.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea have larger flowers than plants of         ‘September Song’.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea are crimson red in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘September Song’ are red in color.

Plants of the new Azalea can be compared to the plants of ‘Robleg’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,227. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C., plants of the new Azalea differed from plants of ‘Robleg’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Azalea were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Robleg’.     -   2. Plants of the new Azalea had larger leaves than plants of         ‘Robleg’.     -   3. Plants of the new Azalea were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Robleg’.     -   4. Plants of the new Azalea flowered during the spring, summer         and autumn whereas plants of ‘Robleg’ flowered only in the         spring and autumn.     -   5. Flowers of plants of the new Azalea were crimson red in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Robleg’ were white in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Azalea plant. These photographs show the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Azalea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘RLH1-1P2’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘RLH1-1P2’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. in 5.7-liter containers, in a polypropylene-covered shade house during the late summer and under commercial production conditions. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from −5° C. to 40° C. and night temperatures ranged from −25° C. to 35° C. Plants used for the photographs were five years old and plants used for the description were two years old. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Rhododendron hybrida ‘RLH1-1P2’. -   Commercial classification: Evergreen-type Azalea. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Rhododendron hybrida identified as code number RLH-1900-RP,             not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Rhododendron hybrida ‘September             Song’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 25 to 30 days at             temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 35 to 45 days at             temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 60 to 70             days at temperatures of 27° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 80 to             100 days at temperatures of 16° C. to 17° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; initially white, close to             155C, in color becoming closer to 159C and eventually 164A             with development.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial and evergreen             flowering shrub; compact, upright, outwardly spreading and             globose plant habit; freely branching habit; dense, bushy             and vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate; freely             flowering habit with numerous showy single to semi-double             flowers.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about ten to             twelve basal branches developing on one year old plants;             pinching (removal of terminal apex) will enhance lateral             branch development.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 30 cm to             45 cm.         -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 25 cm to 35 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 5 cm to 20 cm.             Diameter at base: About 2 mm to 4 mm Internode length: About             3 mm to 19 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright and             outwardly positioned. Texture, developing: Pubescent, fine             white-colored hairs. Texture, mature: Woody; pubescent, fine             greyed brown-colored hairs. Color, developing: Close to             187C. Color, semi-hardwood: Close to 144A becoming close to             165B with development. Color, mature: Close to 165A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Foliage             retention: Very good winter foliage retention has been             observed on plants of the new Azalea. Length: About 3.8 cm             to 6.3 cm. Width: About 1.6 cm to 2.9 cm. Shape: Obelliptic.             Apex: Subacute and mucronulate. Base: Cuneate to attenuate.             Margin: Entire; slightly revolute; ciliate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate; reticulate. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent; coriaceous, tough. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Between 141A and 137A. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully expanded leaves,             upper surface: Close to 139A; venation, close to 137A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A; venation,             close to 145C. Petiole: Length: About 6 mm to 9 mm.             Diameter: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent. Color: Developing leaves, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 183C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Spring, April to May, and then             re-flowering during the summer and autumn, July to October,             until frost in South Carolina.         -   Flower arrangement and appearance.—Single to semi-double             flowers arranged in clusters at terminals and sub-terminals             with usually about one to nine flower buds and two to four             flowers per cluster; uniform and freely flowering habit;             flowers face upward or outward.         -   Flower appearance.—Flowers rotate and rose-like; single or             semi- double flower form; single flowers with a single whorl             of five to six petals; semi-double flowers with an outer             whorl of five to six petals and an inner whorl of one to             five petaloids (transformed stamens) of varying sizes and             shapes.         -   Flower longevity.—Durable and long-lasting; flowers last             about five to ten days on the plant and about three to five             days as a cut flower; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7 cm to 8.5 cm.         -   Flower depth.—About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm.         -   Flower bud (before showing color).—Length: About 1.3 cm to             1.6 cm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 10 mm. Shape: Ovoid. Color:             Close to 143B.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single and semi-double flowers have a             single whorl of five to six petals, fused at the base             forming a wide funnel-shaped corolla. Length: About 2.6 cm             to 3.5 cm. Width: About 2.6 cm to 3.8 cm. Shape: Broadly             ovate to orbicular. Apex: Rotund and revolute; undulate and             ruffled. Margin: Entire; undulate and ruffled. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; rugulose; waxy             to velvety in appearance. Color: When opening, upper             surface: Close to 60B; spots and speckles, close to 59B.             When opening, lower surface: Close to 60B. Fully opened,             upper surface: Close to 61B, spots and speckles, close to             60A; color becoming closer to 60D with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 61B; color becoming closer             to 60D with development.         -   Petaloids.—Arrangement: Semi-double flowers have a single             inner whorl of one to five petaloids, fused at the base,             variable in size and shape. Length: About 2.5 cm to 3.8 cm.             Width: About 1.9 cm to 2.5 cm. Shape: Obelliptic to obovate.             Apex: Obtuse, obcordate to unevenly bisected. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire; undulate, wavy to crisped; slightly involute             to revolute. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; rugulose; waxy to velvety in appearance. Color:             When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 60B. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 61B.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five to six in a single whorl, fused at             the base forming a campanulate to star-shaped corona.             Length: About 1.2 cm to 1.7 cm. Width: About 3.8 mm to 5 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Subulate. Base: Truncate. Margin:             Entire; slightly revolute and ciliate. Texture, upper and             lower surfaces: Lightly covered with sericeous pubescence.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A; central             blotch and streaks, close to 179A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm             to 4 mm. Angle: Mostly upright. Strength: Strong. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A; at maturity, close to 164A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9 mm to 15 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm             to 2.5 mm. Angle: Upright to outwardly. Strength: Strong.             Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 59B; at maturity, close             to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity of stamens per             flower: About six to ten. Filament length: About 1.9 cm to             3.2 cm. Filament color: Close to 60A. Anther shape:             Porandrous with four oblong, tubular to lunate-shaped pollen             sacks basifixed to the filament. Anther length: About 1.5 mm             to 2 mm. Anther color: Close to N186C. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 8D. Gynoecium: Pistil             length: About 4 cm to 4.5 cm. Stigma shape: Round to             flattened (capitate). Stigma color: Close to N79A. Style             length: About 3.8 cm to 4.8 cm. Style color: Close to 60A.             Ovary color: Close to N79A.         -   Fruits.—Quantity per plant: About three to four. Length:             About 9 mm to 11 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm to 8 mm. Texture:             Slightly rugulose; glandular, setaceous. Color: Close to             137B.         -   Seeds.—Quantity per fruit: About 200 to 500. Length: About 1             mm to 1.5 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm to 0.3 mm. Color: Close             to 164A. -   Weather/temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Azalea have been     observed to be very tolerant to rain and wind. Plants of the new     Azalea have been observed to tolerate temperatures from about     −25° C. to about 40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6B     to 9. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Azaleas. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Azalea plant named ‘RLH1-1P2’ as illustrated and described. 